Improvement in pistons foe steam-engines



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s a QQ@ @mm @sg reitsh IMPROVEMENT IN PISTONS PGB. STEAM ENGINES.

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TC ALL WHOM IT MAY CONGERN:

Be it known that 1I, L. B. FLANDERs,.of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inA Pistons; and Ifdo hereby declare the following Ato be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to the peculiar constructibn of the packing ofpistons for steam engines, pumps, etc., the said packing consisting of a series of blocksvand springs constructed, arranged'alternately, and applied to the piston substantially as described hereafter, so as to form apacking which-can be uniformly expanded without'any excess of strain at any one point, or any undue strain on the springs. The improvements further consist ,of a device, described hereaftenfor preventing the yielding of the packing at the lower edge of the piston of a horizontal engine; also ofa device for expanding the aforesaid packing.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describ its construction and operation, reference being had' to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a face view of my improved piston with the cover removed.

Figure 2, a transverse section on the line 1-2, iig. 1;, and Y Figures 3, 4,- and `5,'uioditications of the invention.

The main bodyv of the' piston is constructed in the ordinary manner, there being the usual central hub a,

from which to the annular rib d extend the radial arms-o and between the said annular rib and the usual split:

rings eintervenes the annular space for containing the packing, which consists of a series of metal blocks, and vent springs, z, arrangedalternately. Each block has its opposite tapering sides curved to conformeto the shape of the springs, the inner ends ofthe blocks.V not reaching to the annular rib (l, with which, however, the springs are in contact, the'broad outenends ot' the blocks being in contact with the inside of the rings. In large horizontal engines the lower edges of the pistons and covers are apt to wear, owing to the weight of the piston I and to the yielding of the packing at that point; this I prevent by placing between the inner ends of two or more of the blocks f and the annular rib d small keys, iz', which pre-vent undue compression of thepacking at the bottom edge of the piston. The mode of expanding the packing will be best understood by reference to iig. 8, in whichvthe blocks and springs reof a somewhat diierent form.' A key, m, having a slight taper, is driven between two special blocks, 'n nfso as to force the latter apart and extend the entire ring of blocks and springs, thereby forcing the split rings e eontwards andincreasing the diameter of the piston. This expansion is uniform throughout, there being no excessive strain at any one or more points, no undue strain being imparted to the springs, as they all yield equally, the yielding ofany one spring being of the smallest extent.

The'modioations illustrated in iigs. 4 and 5 will be readily understood without descriptiom.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure byv LettersrP-atent- 1. The within-described packing, composed of ,blocks and springs, constructed and arranged alternately'on a piston between the annular rib d and split ringsve, substantially as described.

2. The keys z' z', arranged between the blocks and annular rib d, for thepurpose specied.

3. The key m, applied for expanding the packing in the manner described.

In testimony whereof have signed my name to this specication in the prescnceof two subscribing witnesses.

L. B. FLANDERS.

Witnesses:

JOHN WHITE, W. J. 'R. DELANY. 

